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Category: Giveaways

Get the latest 'Dragon Ball'

In honor of yesterday's Youmacon post, I'm giving away the Seaon One and Season Two sets of the latest "Dragon Ball" from Funimation.

For your chance to win the uncut sets (they come with a rating of TV 14), send your name and address to ehenrickson@detnews.com. Use "Dragon Ball" as your subject line, and enter only once by Nov. 13.

Last week's "Mystery Science Theater 3000" has garnered my biggest response in years, but "Dragon Ball" is always popular. Anime fans, show those "Misties" who's boss!

Good luck!

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Category: Anime

Youmacon 2009 report

When I wasn unable to attend this year's Youmacon, longtime reader Patty Hammond offered to be my eyes and ears. And boy, did she deliver.

It sounds like the event was a rousing success, and here are her impressions (along with lots of photos and some Youtube videos -- Caitlin Glass as "The Little Mermaid"!)

Voice actors

Caitlin Glass is very excited to be an ADR director for "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood," which has just started the dubbing process. She also sang three songs during her panel with Dave Kitsberg from the Spoony Bards accompanying her on guitar.

Laura Bailey showed an episode of "Soul Eater" during her panel, and she starts her dub work for the role of Lust on "FMA: Brotherhood" this week in Texas.

Travis Willingham did a special signing in one of the panel rooms for those attending either Laura's panel or his panel because there were so many people in line for autographs that they had to cap the line at 100 before anyone who was attending either of these panels could even begin to line up.

The con itself

They Hyatt Regency Dearborn was so crowded, elevators became an issue, and some guests were late to their own panels. There was a good variety of dealers, and they had to impose a strict limit on crowds.

Manga presentation

The manga-ka team Konohana Sakuya (Kohei and Tsugumi Nishino) did a special presentation about the industry in Japan and about the production process. It was a very interesting presentation and showed many aspects of the manga industry. They also took the time to answer questions from aspiring artists on such topics as types of pens and paper used, how best to utilize computer technology in the process and the three paths to becoming a published manga artist:

1. Be an assistant to an established manga artist

2. Be a Dojinshi artist

3. Submit a manga story directly to the publisher, usually through the monthly contests (this is how they got their start along with the artists for "Naruto" and "One Piece").

Be sure to click on Patty's user name to see more of her videos from the con.

Category: Comic books

Comic-Con founder Sheldon Dorf dies

Well, I'm very sad to hear that Comic-Con founder Sheldon Dorf has died. He was 76 and had been suffering from diabetes.

According to the Associated Press, he started the show in 1970 after moving there from Detroit.

He was also a freelance artist and letterer.

As the attendee of a few Comic-Cons, I can say he started a great thing, and I'm sure he'll be greatly missed in the comics community.

Category: Gaming

'Torchlight' - The most fun you can have for $20

Torchlight is the debut game from Runic Games. And what a game it is. Fun, addictive (I just played for two hours that went by in a flash) and highly polished, the game comes from the co-creators of Diablo and Diablo II. And the game, while not breaking much new ground nor having multi-player, is a blast to play. The graphics are bright, with artwork that was inspired by comic books and classic film animation. The music is phenomenal, and reminiscent of the iconic scores that defined the Diablo series (not surprising since Matt Uelman did the music in them, too). You can play as one of three classes: the warrior-like Destroyer, the sorcerer-like Alchemist and the rogue-like Vanquisher. Your character also gets a pet that comes long with you -- yes, for free, and you get it from the start! -- and attacks mobs for you. Not only does your pet have its own inventory, which you can load up and tell it to go back to town to sell for you while you continue adventuring, but you can also equip some armor on your pet and teach it to cast a couple of spells. I've been playing an alchemist with a cat pet that I've taught to cast fireballs (I chuckle just imagining that they're giant fiery hairballs that he's coughing up at the enemy). And when my inventory fills up, which is often because the loot drops fast and heavy, I load up Smeast (Small Beast... get it?) and send him off to town to sell the stuff I don't want, while I continue to vanquish the the orcs, trolls, giant spiders and other denizens of the randomly generated warrens below the titular town of Torchlight. Yes, the formula is pretty much the same as any other dungeon crawler (Dungeon Runners, Diablo, Diablo II, Mythos, etc.), but it has been boiled down to its gem-like kernel of gameplay and then polished until it screams, "PLAY ME!!!!" And does it ever ... I highly, highly recommend the game. Don't just take my word on it, though. Just about every other place that has reviewed the game likes it, as well. Gamespot called it a "great dungeon crawler with enjoyable combat and an excellent loot system." PCWorld says it's "the sort of game that comes itching to please like a hyper-caffeinated pet." And The Escapist admonishes, "$20 is a steal for this game. Get it." And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play more Torchlight.

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Category: Anime

Manga goes Martha

Here's one for the never-thought-I'd-see file: manga cross-stitch.

That's right, if you're the crafty type (or know someone who is), you can make your own throw pillows and fancy wall scrolls emblazoned with your favorite characters (or a close approximation).

"Manga Cross-stitch: Make Your Own Graphic Art Needlework" (Andrews McMeel, $19.99) includes patterns and tips for all sorts of projects, from weapon-toting school girls to cute critters to menacing mechs. None are of licensed characters, but extrapolating probably wouldn't be too hard.

The book is by Helen McCarthy, who has several other anime-related books to her name ("500 Essential Anime Movies," "Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation").

"The idea for 'Manga In Stitches' (the original title) came from the realization that the pixels I was pushing around on my Mac in Photoshop were just like the squares on a counted thread embroidery chart," she writes on her Web site. "I wanted to make a book that would bring together the energy and graphic originality of Japanese animation and comics -- anime and manga -- and the skills and traditions of counted thread needlework. Stitchers often get stereotyped as middle-aged ladies in cardigans, anime and manga fans as geeky teenage misfits. Both stereotypes are equally inaccurate - because both groups are just people who love beautiful things and want to create and enjoy beauty in their own way."

Publisher Andrews McMeel also has a line of manga clip art books, but this is one I wasn't expecting.

If you pick it up and make something, please send me a photo. I'd love to see it.

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Category: Giveaways

Win old favorite 'Mystery Science Theater 3000'

For years, "Mystery Science Theater 3000" was destination viewing in my dorm/apartment. Who can ever forget "Manos: Hands of Fate"?

Never seen "MST3K"? Imagine watching a guy and a couple robot puppets doing the exact same thing you do when you watch a bad old movie. Only, it looks like they're in a movie theater, and you see their shadows in the corner as they heckle the film. With professionally (mostly) written one-liners.

This week, I'm giving away the latest DVD release, "MST3K XVI" from Shout Factory. The movies undergoing (usually) witty commentary by Joel Hodgson and Mike Nelson (and hapless robots Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot) on this outing are "The Corpse Vanishes," "Warrior of the Lost World," "Santa Claus" and "Night of the Blood Beast." Hmm, one of these is not like the others. The set also includes a Tom Servo figurine.

For your chance to win, send your name and address to ehenrickson@detnews.com. Use "MST3K" as the subject line, and enter only once by Nov. 6.

Good luck!

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Category: Anime

Get spooked for Halloween

I was hoping to do one of these myself, but it's been one of those crazy work weeks.

So here's a link to Mania's (formerly animeondvd.com) 10 Haunting Horror Manga and Anime.

It's a pretty good list. Their No. 5, "Ghost Hunt" is one of my favorite recent series. I do have issues with "Hell Girl," which I found to be terribly repetitive and boring, but it's their list, not mine. Beggars can't be choosers.

I might swap it out for "Paranoia Agent," which isn't really horror, but it's pretty creepy.

So check it out and have a great Halloween! Don't forget, it's the weekend of Youmacon at the Dearborn Hyatt. Dress up and have a blast!

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Category: Television

Fraggle-mania!

I'm dubbing today "Fraggle Rock" day for no other reason than a few tidbits have crossed my desk recently, and I really like the show.

First, more DVDs are on the way! In addition to next week's Season 4, complete series and "A Merry Fraggle Holiday" releases, TVshowsondvd.com has news of two other upcoming titles. Feb. 9 will see the release of the single-disc "Fraggle Rock Easter." And now there's word Lionsgate is releasing "Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series" complete on Jan. 19. It wasn't as good as the original series, of course, but all you completists will be glad to see it.

In comic book news, Archaia has pushed back its launch date for the new book, according to a Long Beach Comic Con roundup at Comic Book Resources. Originally scheduled for the spring, it will now come out at an undetermined time, launching the company's line of Henson books (other licenses include "Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth" and "Mirror Mask"). But they still seem to be really into the book, which should appeal to kids and their parents:

"We are taking our time to make sure this is something special," said Stephen Christy, the Director of Development at Archaia. "The whole reason we went into this is, these are not normal licensed books. These are books that we are putting so much time, and so much heart, into. We want it to be something that is completely different from any sort of licensing you've seen."

Also, via UberSciFiGeek, the Jim Henson Co. recently announced a big line of Fraggle products coming to stores next year. It's called the Fraggle Rock Forever collection and includes more stuff than I would ever have expected to see, especially so long after the show debuted. The line includes apparel, tote bags, belt buckles, jewelry and adult Halloween costumes! According to the CBR article, the line also includes puppets. Sweet! And be sure to check out their Dr. Romanelli link.

And, finally, back in August, Brian Henson (son of Jim) assured MTV that the "Fraggle Rock" movie is in "very active development" (as is the sequel to "Dark Crystal"), though it's still waiting on final financing.

I couldn't find any updates on the the computer-animated spin-off "The Doozers," which apparently is still on schedule for its fall 2010 debut.

Whew -- that's a lot of Fraggles!

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Category: Comic books

Pick up 'Beasts of Burden'

"Beasts of Burden" by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse Comics) -- Something evil is lurking around the seemingly idyllic town of Burden Hill, and it's up to the Society to stop it.

The Society isn't your typical group of wizard and witches, though they are the types that can move around unnoticed and sense things outside the realm of normal human experience. They aren't even human.

They're a pack of dogs and a orphaned cat who've taken it upon themselves to unburden Burden Hill from its rash of nefarious paranormal activity.

Issue No. 2 of the four-issue miniseries came out last week, just in time for Halloween, and this is definitely one horror comic that shouldn't be missed.

These aren't Disney dogs, by any means, so don't pick it up for your little ones. But if you're looking for something beyond your typical slasher/gore fest, "Beasts of Burden" will give you something to shiver about.

It starts with Dorkin's script. He's put together an odd pack of animals, making them relatably human but not forgetting they're dogs -- and mostly neighborhood pets, at that. The dichotomy is good for some levity throughout the series, and he strikes a good balance between humor and drama.

The original story started out with the summoning of the Wise Dog, a leader in the Society, called to Burden Hill to help exorcise a ghost haunting a dog house. From there, things get weirder, with a coven of witches (and their black cats), undead dogs and a giant, man-eating frog. Something's afoot, and the Wise Dog enlists the help of these hounds to make things right again -- for themselves and for their people.

Dokin ("Milk and Cheese") is a fine artist in his own right, but here he's assisted by the brilliant painted artwork of Jill Thompson, best known these days for "Scary Godmother" and "Magic Trixie," both wonderful Halloween treats for the family. The expressions she gives her dogs are priceless. And the last page of issue 2 is a real tearjerker. And while she doesn't shy away from the gorier side the supernatural, she doesn't get gratuitous with it.

"Beasts of Burden" started out as part of a few Dark Horse horror anthologies. The company has been kind enough to post those stories for free at its Web site. Take a peek and then pick up the new issues while you still have a ghost of a chance. GRADE: A-

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Category: News

Youmacon, Steam Punk expo coming to Dearborn

Morgan Kollin is a busy guy.

Not only is he running next weekend's Youmacon, he's launching a Steampunk con in 2010.

Youmacon will be entering its fifth year this year. It opens Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn at Fairlane Town Center.

As usual, it's welcoming several voice actors, including Caitlin Glass ("Fullmetal Alchemist" and "School Rumble"), Laura Bailey ("Shin-Chan"), Wayne Grayson ("Yu-Gi-Oh" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"), Brad Swaile ("Death Note") and Travis Willingham ("Fullmetal Alchemist"). The band Spoony Bards will be returning, as well as many popular events, such as the Maid Cafe, charity costume ball and the Halloween pajama party. (If you like to dress up, this is your convention.)

There also will be a vendor area for all your anime, manga and Japanese snack needs. And the Artists Alley will have several goodies available.

I've been to three of the four previous Youmacons, and I can attest to their high fun quotient.

Visit the con's Web site for the full details.

What really interested me in Kollin's latest e-mail is the announcement of his next big thing: the World Steam Expo at the Dearborn Hyatt on Memorial Day weekend 2010.

Steampunk is a cool mashup of the Victorian era (late 1800s) and sci-fi. It's always good for cool designs, and co-splayers usually go all out with amazing get-ups. And what could really give this event a national profile is that the convention will be teaming with the nearby Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum (collectively known as The Henry Ford).

So not only can you see all the cool costumes and props people come up with, you can seem them in their natual habitat at the The Henry Ford's historical exhibits.

The con's Web site is still growing, but it's got Facebook, Myspace and other links as it builds the brand.

And Kollin is planning on announcing two more themed conventions for 2010 by the end of the year.

I can't wait to hear about them.